Page 12 of Declan (Men of Clifton, Montana #53)
Elise returned his smile. “I’d love that. Though I thought we were going to the diner before you take me home.”
Declan chuckled. “That’s true. How about The Hartland, one evening?”
“I love that place. Only been twice, but the food is mouthwatering.”
“It is.”
“Will you show me the rest of the house?”
“Sure.” He offered his hand, and she slipped hers into his. Together they wandered down the hallway.
“How many bedrooms?” she asked.
“Four total. I use one as an office.” He paused at each door, allowing her to look inside, then opened another door to reveal a cozy den.
Walls lined with bookshelves bowed under leather-bound volumes.
A second stone fireplace was set into one corner, its mantel strewn with framed photographs. “Elise, go ahead.”
She stepped inside. “This is beautiful.”
“Of course, you saw the living room and dining room. The house has three stone fireplaces; one in the living room, this one, and the third in my bedroom,” he explained, leading her toward another doorway.
As she stepped inside, her breath caught once more at the sight before her; an entire wall of rugged, rough-cut stone dominated the room, featuring a grand hearth and bordered by a door leading to the bath.
A plush, soft blue carpet cushioned her footsteps, as she moved through the space and gasped at the luxurious surroundings.
The marble tiles spread out beneath her feet, their intricate veins of gray and white swirling together, like clouds drifting lazily across an endless sky.
A deep, inviting jacuzzi tub nestled snugly beneath a frosted glass window seemed to beckon her to unwind.
Beyond it, a spacious glass-tiled shower stall stood proudly, expansive enough to comfortably fit ten people.
The stall boasted shower heads on three of its walls, with an additional one suspended from the ceiling, creating a rainfall effect over the center.
The back wall of the stall was stone. Chrome fixtures gleamed brilliantly under the warm, ambient glow of recessed lighting, casting a soft radiance throughout the space.
The long granite vanity, with its sophisticated elegance, displayed double sinks.
Each sink was adorned with polished silver faucets that glinted like precious jewels, adding a touch of opulence to this serene and elegant sanctuary.
“This is just…” Elise ran her hand over the countertop. “Incredible.”
Declan leaned in the doorway, arms folded, a grin on his face.
“This bathroom sold me on the house.” He pushed off the frame, walked to the cabinet, opened it, revealing folded towels and a shelf with aspirin, acetaminophen, band-aids, and jars of salve, which he took one down for her and handed it to her.
Elise smiled at him. “Thank you. I saw garage doors under the house when we arrived.”
“Four-car garage beneath the main floor. Outside, the three ponds are stocked, you can fish whenever you like. I spend every spare minute out there on the weekends I’m not working. One of the larger ponds has a cabin that I stay in sometimes when I go there to fish or hunt.”
She smiled, imagining him at the water’s edge. “That sounds perfect.”
He grinned. “Do you fish?”
Elise shivered in mock terror. “No. Absolutely not.”
He laughed. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”
She shook her head, amused. “Maybe I’ll just watch you fish.”
He offered his hand with a smile. “I’d like that.”
She placed her hand in his, and together they strolled back toward the light-filled living room, then walked outside to head to the diner.
When he escorted her home, his fingers intertwined with hers as they ascended the stairs, and her heart raced with conflicting fears: the possibility that he might kiss her, and the equal fear that he might not. Did she want him to? Absolutely, with every fiber of her being.
At the stoop, he gently took her keys from her grasp, unlocked the door, and handed them back. She met his gaze, smiling only to frown in playful curiosity.
“How tall are you?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.
“Six-five,” he replied.
“I’m five-six. You’re almost a foot taller,” she observed, an amused note in her voice.
“You don’t like tall men?” He grinned.
“I happen to love tall men,” she confessed, a blush creeping up her cheeks as she realized the implications of her words. “You know what I mean.”
Declan chuckled. “Yes, ma’am. I had a great time today, Elise.”
“I did too. I’d love to do it again, once my legs stop feeling like jelly.”
“You need to ride more,” he suggested.
“I understand that. It was the same with ballet.” She nodded.
“So, when would you like to go out to dinner? I’ll need to make a reservation,” he asked.
“Whenever you can get one,” she replied, eager for their next encounter.
“I know the owner. All I have to do is give him a call. He’ll get me in if he can.” He smirked, clearly enjoying his advantage.
“Oh, okay. Well, how about next Saturday evening?” she suggested, her excitement barely contained.
“I have to work next weekend, so how about the following Saturday night? I’ll aim for around six. Will that work for you?”
“Yes,” she affirmed, her heart skipping a beat.
They stood there, eyes locked, as she noticed his gaze drop to her lips before returning to her eyes, a silent question hanging in the air.
“You have no idea how badly I want to kiss you, Elise,” he murmured, his voice low and husky.
“You have no idea how badly I want you to, Declan,” she whispered back, her breath catching in her throat.
With a knowing grin, he leaned down and gently pressed his lips to hers. She moaned softly at the sensation, as he wrapped his hand around the back of her head, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss. Elise slipped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his, lost in the moment.
He slowly lifted his lips, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine, and then he grinned. “Even better than I imagined,” he murmured softly.
“You imagined kissing me?” she teased, her eyes sparkling with playful curiosity.
He laughed. “I’m not going to answer that. It could lead to other questions from you that I don’t want to answer right now.” He leaned in, pressing a light, affectionate kiss to her forehead. “I’ll be in touch. Go inside.”
“Okay,” she replied softly, her heart fluttering as she reluctantly turned to enter the apartment.
As she closed the door, she glanced back to find him still standing there, watching her with a look that made her heart skip a beat.
When he touched the brim of his hat, she smiled warmly, closed the door gently, locked it and leaned back against it, listening to the sound of his footsteps echoing down the stairs until they faded.
Pushing off the door, she glided across the room to her bathroom, the soft glow of the lights casting a warm ambiance.
She twisted the faucet, and the soothing sound of water filling the tub filled the air as steam rose.
Stripping away the day’s clothing, she slipped into the inviting warmth of the water, the heat enveloping her like a comforting embrace.
She closed her eyes, imagining him there with her, sharing the peaceful moment.
“Oh, girl, you are in so much trouble,” she murmured to herself, a smile playing on her lips as she leaned her head back, letting the warmth and her thoughts wash over her.
****
As Declan drove home, a smile spread across his face at the thought of Elise.
The idea that this could turn into something he had been yearning for a long time danced in his mind.
His sister often pushed him about settling down, and his mother was no different, telling him she wanted more grandchildren.
Many of his friends were now in relationships, engaged, or married, and though he yearned for that same stability, he had yet to meet a woman who stirred that desire… until now.
The anticipation of seeing Elise again was a novel feeling for him.
In the past, after a date, he rarely felt an urge to take the woman out again, knowing it wouldn’t lead anywhere meaningful.
This was a sentiment he shared with Denise, who had been married for years and had no wish to travel that path again.
Yet, he secretly hoped she would find happiness with someone someday.
Upon pulling into his driveway, he pressed the button above his visor, watching as the gate gracefully swung shut behind him.
As he’d mentioned to Elise, he seldom closed it unless he craved solitude.
An intercom at the gate connected to the house, and if he preferred not to entertain company, he simply ignored it…
except for family. He chuckled, knowing they had a tenacity that wouldn’t be deterred if they truly wanted to come in.
Once parked in the garage, Declan entered the house to find Tank, sitting patiently in the kitchen, eyes fixed on him.
“What’s your problem? You have a pet door to come and go as you please.
You even have your own fenced yard,” he said with a grin as Tank barked and bounded over to him.
Declan crouched, giving Tank’s ears a good rub before straightening up.
“I’m going to grab a shower and then relax.
We’ll watch some TV, okay?” Tank barked again in agreement. “Good boy.”
Declan wanted to relax for the rest of the evening since he had to go back to work tomorrow, and even though he’d just left Elise, he was anxious to see her again.